Handle mechanism for suitcases and the like.



pnrrnn s rains PATENT UFFIfiE.

HENRY J. CHILTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HANDLE MECHANISM FOR SUITCASES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 20, 1915, Serial No. 9,562. Renewed April 17, 1917.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. CHILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handle Mechanism for Suitcases and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a handle mechanism for suit cases, valises, satchels and similar articles, and more particularly to mechanism whereby the handle can be rendered inoperative.

The salient objects of the invention are to provide a handle mechanism for suit cases or other articles of baggage, which mechanism can be so adjusted that the article of baggage afl'ords no convenient gripping portion; to provide a construction in which the ordinary type of handle can be employed and locked in its inoperative position; to provide a construction in which the lid and the handle may both be locked by means of the same mechanism; to provide a construction which will not interfere with the normal use of the handle when unlocked; to so construct and arrange the parts that it may be economically manufactured and will not detract from the appearance of the article to which it is attached; and in general to provide a simple and efficient means whereby the unauthorized carrying off of the suit case is rendered difficult.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a suit case to which my invention has been applied;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the locking mechanism and a portion of the handle;

Fig. 3 is a similar vertical section, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the key.

Referring to the particular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, 1 designates a suit case provided with the usual cover 2. The latter is fastened in its closed position by means of latches 3 and 4 and a key-controlled lock 5, these parts being of standard construction. 0

A handle 6 is provided for carrying the said case, this handle being pivotally secured to the suit case by means of eyelets 7 and 8. The ease with which the suit case can be picked up by means of the ordinary handle facilitates the theft of suit cases or other baggage, and this invention contem- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Serial No. 162,755.

plates a novel arrangement of parts whereby the handle can be rendered inoperative. The particular means employed for this purpose in the construction shown is as follows:

The handle 6 is provided with a recess 9 with which engages a latch or keeper 10 when the handle is positioned substantially fiat against the surface of the suit case. The movement of this latch or keeper 10 is con trolled by a locking mechanism ll-inclosed within a case 12. Within the latter is a second latch or keeper 13 operated by the.

key 14 at the same time that the latch or keeper 10 is actuated, the key being in sertible through the key-hole 15. This avoids the necessity of a plurality of keys for the same suit case, and also permits the cover and the handle to both be locked or unlocked by one operation. I

In order to prevent anyone getting a grip on the handle when it is locked, the surface of the case 1 is provided with raised portions 16 and 16 forming a seat 17, which the handle engages when turned down against the side of the suit case. The raised removal of the suit case requires that it be.

picked up bodily and the carrying of the suit case in this manner would not only be difficult, but would attract sufficient atten tion .to deter the theft of a suit case, the handle of which had been locked in inoperative position, in accordance with my inven-' tion.

By the term locking mechanism as employed in the claims, is meant a device which cannot be operated except by a special key or by the use of a contrivance the operation of which is not known to the general public.

While I have shown and described a suit case it is obvious that various other articles of baggage can be equipped with devices embodying my invention. Also various changes in construction and combinations of parts can be made without departing from the scope of my invention. For in stance, some constructions may require a lock for the handle separate from the lock for the cover, and I do not desire to limit the invention except as specified in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a hand baggage case, of a carrying handle attached to said case and rockable to an inoperative position against the face of the case, and locking mechanism for positively locking said handle in said inoperative position until released by adjustment of said locking mechanism.

2. The combination With an article to be carried, said article having a cover and means for locking the cover, of a handle for said article and means for looking said handle in inoperative position, said means being operated by the same actuating mech- Copies of this patent may be obtained for anism employed for operating the cover lock.

3. The combination with a hand baggage case, of a carrying handle permanently attached to said case, and movable to an inoperative position, and locking mechanism for positively locking said handle in said inoperative position until released by adjustment of said locking mechanism.

4-. The combination with a hand baggage case, of a carrying handle attached to said case and movable to an inoperative position against the face of said case, said case having a seat adapted to embrace a portion of the handle in its inoperative position, and means for locking the handle in said seat.

' HENRY J. CHILTON.

Witnesses:

C. B. BELKNAP, J OYOE M. LUTZ.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

